HDD Benchmarks: HD Tune Pro Read / Write

HD Tune
Pro is an extended version of HD Tune which includes many new features such as:
write benchmark, secure erasing, AAM setting, folder usage view, disk monitor,
command line parameters and file benchmark. The benchmark measures raw
performance in a couple different ways to measure a hard drive for Read and
Write tests, which are conducted separately. To read the results below consider
that highest minimum/maximum/average transfer rates are better, while lower
(quicker) access times are best. Lastly, highest burst rates are better.
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HD Tune 4.6 - Read
Tests

Read Average Transfer Rate: (MB/s)

Points

Ranking

Seagate Constellation
ES ST1000NM0011 HDD

117.9

Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD

111.8

Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD

86.1

Kingston SSDNow 300V 2406GB SSD

371.9

Crucial M4 256GB SSD

371.8

SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD

381.4

OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD

375.1

OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD

233.1

Plextor PX-128M1S SSD

100.1

Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD

117.5

Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD

110.2

Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD

90.7

Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD

84

Read Access Time: (ms)

Points

Ranking

Seagate Constellation
ES ST1000NM0011 HDD

12.2

Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD

12

Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD

12.2

Kingston SSDNow 300V 2406GB SSD

0.047

Crucial M4 256GB SSD

0.046

SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD

0.054

OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD

0.132

OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD

0.056

Plextor PX-128M1S SSD

0.3

Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD

26.8

Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD

16.6

Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD

0.615

Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD

16.9

Read Burst Rate: (MB/s)

Points

Ranking

Seagate Constellation
ES ST1000NM0011 HDD

182.3

Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD

176.5

Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD

134.4

Kingston SSDNow 300V 2406GB SSD

365.6

Crucial M4 256GB SSD

124.8

SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD

257.6

OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD

347

OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD

216.8

Plextor PX-128M1S SSD

101

Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD

367.6

Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD

312.4

Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD

155.9

Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD

183.5

Single drive result
graph

In HDTune the 1TB Seagate Constellation ES ST1000NM0011
drive achieves a READ Burst Rate of 182.3MB/s, an Average Read transfer rate of
117.9Mb/s and a Max Read Transfer rate is 147.8MB/s which is in line with
advertised specs. Access time is 12.2ms. Compared to the older WD RE4 drive, the
Seagate Constellation is a little bit quicker in this Read-oriented hard drive
benchmark. Now, onto the write tests.

HD Tune 4.6 - Write
Tests

Write Average Transfer Rate: (MB/s)

Points

Ranking

Seagate Constellation
ES ST1000NM0011 HDD

116.3

Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD

108.9

Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD

85.4

Kingston SSDNow 300V 2406GB SSD

356.3

Crucial M4 256GB SSD

282.6

SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD

350.8

OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD

312.9

OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD

215.4

Plextor PX-128M1S SSD

73.4

Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD

112.5

Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD

105.1

Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD

86.5

Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD

80.9

Write Access Time: (ms)

Points

Ranking

Seagate Constellation
ES ST1000NM0011 HDD

5.9

Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD

4.4

Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD

10.6969

Kingston SSDNow 300V 2406GB SSD

0.093

Crucial M4 256GB SSD

0.344

SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD

0.109

OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD

0.146

OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD

10.6969

Plextor PX-128M1S SSD

10.6969

Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD

17.9

Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD

8.03

Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD

15.8

Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD

9.05

Write Burst Rate: (MB/s)

Points

Ranking

Seagate Constellation
ES ST1000NM0011 HDD

159.3

Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD

157.1

Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD

170.6969

Kingston SSDNow 300V 2406GB SSD

309.6

Crucial M4 256GB SSD

166.7

SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD

318.8

OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD

335

OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD

170.6969

Plextor PX-128M1S SSD

170.6969

Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD

339.3

Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD

189

Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD

250

Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD

177.4

Single drive results
graph

Moving
onto the Write tests.... once again we find the Seagate Constellation ES
ST1000NM0011 HDD performs a bit faster than the 1TB Western Digital RE4. The
Seagate Constellation scores a Burst Write speed of 159MB/s vs 157MB/s for the
WD RE4. Average Write speed is 116MB/s which is the quickest of any HDD tested
to date. Maximum sustained Write speed peaks at 147.7MB/s.